Fitness & Weight Management

Take a healthy step towards achieving a simple win. No matter what your level of activity is right now, you can make progress safely and slowly step by step, with the right plan. Use the tools and resources in this section to help manage your fitness and weight goals.

How does physical activity or exercise help control diabetes?

Research has shown that physical activity can play a major role in controlling both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Exercise can lower blood glucose, lower blood pressure, lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, raise HDL (good) cholesterol, lower risk for heart disease and stroke, and improve the body’s ability to use insulin.

In type 1 diabetes, physical activity is an important part of your overall regimen, which includes taking insulin, meal planning and exercise. If you have type 2 diabetes, losing weight allows your natural insulin to do a better job of lowering blood glucose. This may also help your diabetes medications work more effectively.

Now that you understand how exercise can help control diabetes, challenge yourself to reach your own personal fitness and weight goals—your simple wins.